Somerset CCC match reports plus occasional articles and poems

At last

James Hildreth’s second day century had given Somerset a real opportunity to push for their first victory in the opening match of the season for five years.

Overnight: Somerset 202 and 255 for 9. Worcestershire 179. Somerset lead by 278 with 1 second innings wicket standing.

Apart from a late flurry from the last two Worcestershire wickets this was a clinical performance by the Somerset bowlers. They may, as some have said, have looked a little rusty in the first innings; they most certainly did not in the second. It was joyous, as a Somerset supporter, to sit in the Somerset Pavilion next to Gimblett’s Hill and watch such a performance.

This was not a case of winning as an existential, at least in First Division survival terms, imperative as the wins against Lancashire and Middlesex were at the end of last season. Arguably so were the other two Championship wins in 2017, coming as they did after a string of defeats had left Somerset sinking from view in the relegation zone.

In 2016 the wins against Surrey, Durham and Warwickshire were, individually, skin-of-the-teeth wins. Most of the other wins in that year were ‘needs must’ wins if Somerset were to sustain a Championship challenge. Somerset, although at a different end of the table, were playing catch-up in 2016 as well as in 2017.

This win was of a different order. There was pressure not to have another slow start to the season but it was not the sort of pressure which comes from knowing a defeat will mean relegation or the end of a Championship challenge. It was not a ‘catch-up’ match. That has been Somerset’s weakness since their return to the First Division, 2012 apart. The inability to win before the ‘needs must’ pressure of one sort or another builds up. That is what made this win feel different. It was as if a load had been lifted.

I felt no great tension as I walked through the Brian Rose gates on the third morning. In the broad light of day it felt like Somerset would probably win the match. The performance over the first two days had felt like things were coming together. Rusty at times perhaps but the oil worked around the system as the match progressed.

The batting had been the concern in 2017 when a late resurgence of form came almost too late. The classic example of ‘needs must’. Eddie Byrom did not fire in this match but perhaps he was due a failure after the start to his First Class career he made at the end of 2017. Marcus Trescothick, after a first innings failure, looked imperious for his 43 in the second and 43 was not a bad score on this pitch.

Matthew Renshaw’s century was all that could be asked of an overseas player. James Hildreth had some alarums in both innings but his second was an innings of determined graft, of a type which he often only produces when Somerset’s season is in great need, although it was still lit up by slices of genius. Tom Abell’s second innings 27 was played with real authority. Only Steven Davies left a worry. He seemed to be playing across his pads too early in his innings as he did at the start of last season.

Once I was through the gate I had barely said hello to someone when one of Tim Groenewald’s stumps was sent cartwheeling for the 22-year-old Barnard’s 11th wicket in the match. “A good sign,” I said to no-one in particular, “the pitch may still be doing something;” a reference to the first match in 2017 when Essex had chased down 255 on the third day for the loss of two wickets as a sporty pitch flattened.

Now would come the test of whether Somerset’s new cricket management and revised pre-season preparation, including marquee nets designed to enhance preparation on grass, had made a difference.

The answer was not long in coming. Lewis Gregory ran in with a beautiful rhythm and smooth action. He bowled at a pace which had not appeared to be there in 2017. It was a joy to watch. A vision of artistry as striking in its way as Hildreth’s batting. The operation on his injured back seeming to bear fruit as witnessed by Daryl Mitchell’s off and middle stumps being viciously uprooted. ‘Comprehensively bowled’ used to be the term in the old days. It will serve too for this dismissal. Worcestershire were 4 for 1 in pursuit of 279.

I remember watching Basil D’Oliviera play and not just at the end of his career. Now I was watching his grandson. ‘Fugit inreparabile tempus’ as Virgil had it. ‘It escapes, irretrievable time” as the all-knowing internet translates it. And time has done just that and it is irretrievable.

Brett D’Oliviera did not long hold up time today as Josh Davey, continuing a confident and competent start to the season, appeared to move the ball in and pinned him lbw. When Gregory hit Clarke on the pad with a ball that glinted in the sun as it seemed to keep low the, these days, timely scoreboards recorded 25 for 3. The match was now shaping nicely into the sort of start to the season which has eluded Somerset for half a decade.

The First Division is not easy. Fell and Head promptly started to make progress. At 55 for 3, congenitally pessimistic when watching Somerset, I turned to someone and said, “We need another wicket.” 55 for 4 as Groenewald answered my prayer. He generated some lift, Head chased it, edged the ball, Davies jumped high to his right and took the catch.

The pressure was now bearing down heavily on Worcestershire as it has borne down on Somerset so often at the start of the season. At the start of this season it was Somerset who systematically increased the pressure on the opposition. Worcestershire increasingly looked like they felt it. Fell chased a tantalising delivery from Overton just wide enough to tempt the stroke. He missed but the cries of “Ohhhh” from around the ground told the tale. It looked to be a stroke played more in desperation than anticipation.

Next Fell edged a delivery from Groenewald which flew off the edge of the bat to Trescothick’s hip at second slip from where it tumbled to the ground. It was the second or third drop in the match for Trescothick, depending on whether a low one carried. Some wondered if his reactions are slowing. No-one should be surprised if he shows they are still quick enough to pluck balls out of the air as they fly to the slips.

When Rhodes edged Groenewald, Renshaw, at third slip, dived low to his right and took a sharp chance even by slip catching standards. He is a tall man too. Even I felt 63 for 5 was secure enough for me to take my eyes off the cricket for a moment or two. The sky was a combination of high white clouds and strands of blue. The warmth was spring, rather than the previous day’s summer, but the breeze reminded us that winter had paid a visit not so very long ago. There were three school children on the Somerset Pavilion terrace which was refreshing for a Championship match and the cricket and the weather had produced the statutory dozen people watching from the balconies of the flats.

Lunch was made heaven when it fell as Gregory had the quietly persevering Fell lbw for 41. Worcestershire had subsided to 83 for 6, still 196 from victory. It seemed to confirm a growing feeling of inevitability about the morning’s proceedings after Somerset had battled their way to what now felt like dominance over the first two days.

A circumnavigation of the ground revealed general relief rather than excitement at the prospect of a win in the first game. There was also much comment on the performance of Barnard who had been a thorn in the advancing Somerset side throughout the game.

The pre-season marquee, sometimes referred to as “the tent”, may have been a crucial innovation given the weather this spring and the lack of match practice. Somerset had not done things by halves. The marquee was longer than those leased by most counties to ensure that the Somerset pace bowlers could bowl off their full runs. Presumably of benefit to both them and the Somerset batsmen.

There was careful management of the pitches within the marquee to ensure maximum usage. It meant practice with a ball behaving naturally off grass rather than less variably in an indoor net. It also meant that practice could continue unabated when there was a foot of snow on the ground or the pitches outside the marquee were too wet to use.

Perhaps ‘mopping up’ is an unfortunate term to think of using in this season with its wettest of pre-season starts but that is what Somerset did after Lunch, although it took them rather longer than they had probably anticipated. It took eight overs before Cox tried to leave Davey by lifting his bat to the horizontal, face down along the line of the ball and a foot or so above the stumps. Davey must have generated some bounce for the ball glanced neatly off the bat and straight into the stumps. 103 for 7.

Barnard was dropped at slip, my line of sight obscured so I could not see the fielder. Then Hildreth rehabilitated the slips by catching one off Leach which flew fast towards his head or thereabouts. 121 for 8. We all relaxed now. Worcestershire still 154 short of their target. The batsmen may have relaxed too for they started to lay about them, the apparent certainty of defeat perhaps releasing the pressure. They started to lift the score with some well hit attacking strokes aided by a few edges and a number of balls which evaded the edge, if only just.

In one over from Groenewald, Tongue drove hard and missed two balls in succession. Barnard came down the wicket to offer advice. Whatever he said the result was a well struck three, driven to the Botham Stand, soon followed by a boundary to the Ondaatje Stand. 158 for 8. Worcestershire 121 short. Still safe enough it seemed but one or two pairs of eyes were glancing at the scoreboard more often than they had been half an hour before.

“Worth bringing Leach on,” someone ventured as the chill in the wind picked up. Barnard edged but I couldn’t see if it carried to Davies, one of the downsides of sitting anywhere near straight. Sometimes the thinking of captain and crowd align for Leach started to warm up. Overton promptly went straight through Tongue who then popped the next ball straight back to him, chest high, for one of the easier caught and bowleds, although I imagine the bowler’s follow through makes very few easy.

Magoffin came in to face Overton with five slips lined up with the Botham Stand as backdrop. Overton went straight through him as well, this time to a huge spontaneous appeal, although without effect. But batting had looked easier for the most part since the eighth wicket fell. Magoffin drove Overton through mid-off to the covers store and Barnard pushing towards his second 50 of the match hit him for six to the Ondaatje Stand.

Leach eventually came on but the innings was ended by a Renshaw throw from the Ondaatje boundary which seemed to leave Magoffin perhaps a yard short as Barnard tried to retain the strike and Somerset had won by 83 runs. Barnard was stranded just five runs short of a second fifty in the match in which he had taken 11 wickets including two five wicket hauls. Some thought Renshaw’s foot had been over the line in fielding the ball but I was too far away, at the far end of the Somerset Pavilion, to see or even be aware there might have been an issue. I imagine Renshaw was no more aware than I was.

At last. Somerset had won their first match of the season for the first time since 2012 and, for the most part, had controlled proceedings. It left an odd feeling, at least with me. Not the normal excitement which accompanies a win. More sheer relief that the team would not, once again, start the season with a disappointment. Some said Worcestershire are relegation favourites. Perhaps they are although Barnard will give them a lift. Even if it is the case this was a mighty step forward for Somerset for the match still had to be won and the team still had to come together and perform as a unit.

And in spite of all that Somerset find themselves in fifth place in the very embryonic table. However, they are only six points behind the early leaders Yorkshire who are the visitors at Taunton on Friday. In a 14-match season every game is important but the next one could be very important indeed. If there is to be any thought of a tilt at the Championship in 2018 it may be a case of ‘must win’, or at the very least not lose, already.

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‘Farmer White’ Somerset Cricket Writing

The purpose of this website is to provide a location where the collected cricket writing of ‘Farmer White’, most of which is published on diverse ‘threads’ on grockles.com, an independent Somerset cricket website, can be accessed and read in one location.

The posts which appear on this site have been edited to remove some errors and some repetition which can occur especially when a post, as most were, were written at pace immediately after a match and well into the early hours of the morning.

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In addition to reporting on the cricket ‘Farmer White’ reports may contain opinion and try to reflect the atmosphere of the match. ‘Farmer White’ also writes about the experience of being a Somerset supporter whether at a match or not.

In addition to match reports the site contains articles and poems related to Somerset cricket all written by ‘Farmer White’. Further examples are added from time to time.

Match reports on every day of Championship cricket in 2018 are now in place. August.

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‘Farmer White’

17th March 2019

‘Farmer White’

‘Farmer White’, the author of this site, was brought up on the story of one of Somerset’s greatest cricketers, JC ‘Farmer’ White; of how his slow left arm bowling was the epitome of accuracy and that he captained England.

An indelible impression was made and, as indelible impressions do, it has remained with him.

When, at the end of the 2016 season, he began to post reports and occasional articles and poems on threads on grockles.com and needed a posting name ‘Farmer White’ was the natural choice.

JC ‘Farmer’ White 1891-1961

JC ‘Jack’ or ‘Farmer’ White played for Somerset CCC from 1907-37. He captained the side from 1927-31.

He remains the County’s leading First Class wicket taker with 2167 at an average of 18.02. He took 100 First Class wickets in a season 14 times.

With the bat he scored six centuries and scored 1000 runs in a season twice.

He took 381 catches.

He played in 15 Tests for England and captained England four times.

In the 1928-9 Ashes series he was England’s top wicket taker with 25.

In the Adelaide Test he took 13 for 256 in 124.5 overs and England won by 12 runs.

‘FARMER WHITE’ ON CRICKET

To locate the post in which a quote appears click the post title located immediately beneath the quote.

“And then, as at the end of the last match of every season, there was the reluctance of many to leave their seats as they watched, across an empty outfield, the memories of the season past. Better memories for Somerset supporters than for Nottinghamshire ones this year.”Notts v Som CC1 Day 3 26th Sep 2018“Winter well”

“Those modes of dismissal summed up the different characters of the bowling of Overton and Gregory. The one seemingly forcing his way through defences to snatch wickets. The other quietly purloining them from unwary batsmen.”Notts v Som CC1 Day 2 25th Sep 2018Business end

“This was Hildreth at his glorious, apparently carefree, but doubtless intensely focused best. As the clouds gathered in they might have been the chariots of gods come to see who was creating such perfection in the imperfect world below.”Notts v Som CC1 Day 1 24th Sep 2018Of genius and the sublime

“Somerset 4 for 2. And then Hildreth. Hildreth did what Hildreth does. An on driven boundary of perfection off his first ball.”
Som v Surrey CC1 Day 3 20 Sep 2018Fighting hard

“They be too good for we,” the comment from across the aisle. There was perhaps more truth in that than even the speaker, who I find to be perceptively knowledgeable about cricket, realised.”
Som v Surrey CC1 Day 2 19 Sep 2018Somerset under the weather

“Somerset in the field were exemplified by Abell at cover. I lost count of the number of times a ball flew off the bat with ‘four’ written all over it only to find itself snared by Abell’s electrifying dives.”Som v Surrey CC1 Day 1 18 Sep 2018Surrey on the road

“If momentum means anything we have a chance,” someone said, and Somerset had picked up momentum at the end of the Sussex innings as fast as the Bungee Blast was shooting people into the air. Whether Somerset could turn the match on its head as the bungee did its rotating victims was another matter.”
Som v Sussex T20 SF 15 Sep 2018 All Wright on the night

“When you are at a match and a Test-class fast bowler gets it right at pace and settles into a wicket-taking rhythm in helpful conditions on a helpful pitch it is as if a force of nature has been unleashed on the batsmen.”
Hants v Som CC1 Day 2 11 Sep 2018A test of class

“On the way back to the car my white wyvern hat attracted another Somerset supporter. It does that. “38 for 3 the last I heard,” he said, “What is going on?” “It’s worse than that,” I replied, “we were 72 for 5 at Lunch.” It was worse than that. “Not us. Them,” he replied. “They are 38 for 3. We were 106 all out.”
Hants v Som CC1 Day 1 10 Sep 2018Seam from a distance

“I don’t know how much apprehension a human being is supplied with at birth but I have used up enough to fill one of those super tankers that are so difficult to to turn around just watching Somerset.”
Som v Lancs CC1 Day 2 5 Sep 2018Four days tied up in two

“After Lunch, Leach got to work. He started to pick away at the batsmen like an examiner picks away at students who have not done their revision.”
Som v Lancs CC1 Day 1 4 Sep 201822 wickets and 298 runs in Stygian Gloom

“To see one Overton in full flow is a sight worth the seeing. To see both in full flow and in tandem is a sight to treasure.”Yorks v Som CC1 Day 4 1 Sep 2018Yorkshire outpaced

“The Yorkshire crowd cannot be faulted for its impartiality when judging the cricket. Even a loud lbw appeal against Hildreth playing well forward met with the response, “No. Thee can’t gi’ that. He’s too far forrard.”Yorks v Som CC1 Day 3 31 Aug 2018Perfect day

“The comments of opposition supporters, as a match unfolds, sit on the opposite end of the emotional seesaw to where your own feelings sit. At Headingley the frequency of the comments keeps the seesaw constantly in motion.”
Yorks v Som CC1 Day 2 30 Aug 2018Not too bad a day

“The gentlest of gentle bat movements produced rocket like power in the ball as it skimmed the outfield and crossed the boundary directly in front of me. “Just look at that,” another Yorkshire voice drooled.”
Yorks v Som CC1 Day 1 29 Aug 2018Cavalcade

“It was as if the Gillette Cup had passed through a time warp and come to visit. The atmosphere had the feel of those days again. And the match had the feel of the great cup runs of the 70s and 80s.”
Som v Notts T20 QF 27 Aug 2018Gregory’s game

“This was a significant victory not just in the context of this season but in marking the continuing development of what has the potential to become one of the all-time great Somerset teams, perhaps, just perhaps, the greatest of them all.”
Som v Essex CC1 Day 4 22 Aug 2018A match for the ages

“The Essex horse was loose in the paddock with no-one apparently able to close the gate other than Leach and it is too big a job for one man.”
Som v Essex CC1 Day 3 21 Aug 2018Of stable doors

“Davey has emerged as a genuine front line bowler to be reckoned with this season. No longer a man dependent on April green tops for his wickets. The ball with which he bowled Westley was as good as any you will see.”
Som v Essex CC1 Day 2 20 Aug 2018Bowled over

“The talk at the back of the Somerset Pavilion (elevated) was of Peter Wight. Of Peter Wight and Fred Trueman. Of the day in 1962 when Fred Trueman arrived late for the Championship match at Taunton and was sent home by the Yorkshire captain for his pains.”Som v Essex CC1 Day 1 19 Aug 20181962 all over again

“As I left after the match I spoke to a couple who might have watched Somerset in the 1950s and probably did. Neither of them had ever watched T20 before. “A great match,” they said, “and the fielding is a level above.”
Sur’y v Som T20 S Group 10 Aug 2018A stellar match

“Van de Merwe examined the batsmen with the accuracy of a dentist probing with a drill. He imposed the same disinclination to make any rash movements on the batsmen as a dentist does on a patient.”
Hants v Som T20 S Group 8 Aug 2018A Rye look at the cricket

“The light relented and after Tea out into this frozen wasteland the rules of cricket demanded the players return.”
Som v Yorks CC1 Day 2 29 Apr 2018Somerset’s Arctic expedition

” There is no need to use superlatives because it was a superlative innings full of its own superlatives.”
Som v Yorks CC1 Day 1 28 Apr 2018A century for lunch

I remember watching Basil D’Oliviera play and not just at the end of his career. Now I was watching his grandson. ‘Fugit inreparabile tempus’ as Virgil had it. ‘It escapes, irretrievable time” as the all-knowing internet translates it.”
Som v Worcs CC1 Day 3 22 Apr 2018 At last

“One of the things about catching up on 43 years while trying to watch the cricket is you miss the odd thing. Sometimes you miss a year, sometimes you miss a wicket. I missed Abell’s.”
Som v Worcs CC1 Day2 21 Apr 2018Hildreth takes it away

“The first day of Somerset’s 2018 season. It started disastrously. The patisserie on Paddington Station where I used to start my journeys to Taunton during the years of my eastern exile had gone.”
Som v Worcs CC1 Day 1 20 Apr 2018Renshaw drives hard